What blocking does and doesn't do
When you block someone on Facebook, that person can no longer see your profile, send you messages, find you in search results, or see your posts and comments anywhere on the platform. They cannot tag you in photos or add you as a friend. If you were already friends, blocking also removes them from your friends list.
Blocking is different from unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and search for your profile — they just can't message you or see your friends list. Blocking is the stronger option and is what you want if you need to cut off all contact with someone.
The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them. However, if they try to visit your profile or search for you, they will see a message saying the profile is not available. They may figure out you blocked them, but Facebook does not tell them directly.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone removes them from your friends list, hides your profile from them, and stops them from messaging or tagging you.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a message thread, or from your settings — the result is the same no matter which route you use.
- The person you block will not get a notification, but they may notice they cannot find your profile or access your posts.
- You can unblock someone at any time from your blocked list in settings, which restores their ability to message and friend you again.
How to block someone from their profile
The quickest way to block someone is to go to their profile and use the menu button. Open Facebook and search for the person's name, or click on their profile if you see them in your feed or messages. Once you are on their profile page, look for the three dots (•••) or the down arrow in the top right corner of their profile header.
Click that menu button. A list of options will appear. Look for the word "Block" in that list and click it. Facebook will ask you to confirm — it will show you a message saying "Block [person's name]?" with options to "Block" or "Cancel." Click "Block" to finish. The person is now blocked, and you will be taken back to your own profile or feed.
How to block someone from a message or chat
If you want to block someone you have been messaging with, you can do it directly from the message thread. Open your messages by clicking the messenger icon (speech bubble) at the top of Facebook, or open the Facebook Messenger app on your phone. Find the conversation with the person you want to block.
On a computer, right-click the person's name in the message list on the left side. A menu will appear with options including "Block." Click it and confirm. On a phone, swipe left on the conversation (iPhone) or long-press it (Android), then tap "Block" from the menu that appears. The conversation will disappear from your inbox, and the person will no longer be able to message you.
How to block someone from your settings
You can also block someone from your privacy settings, which is useful if you want to block multiple people or if you cannot find their profile. Click the down arrow in the top right corner of Facebook (on a computer) or the menu icon (three horizontal lines on a phone). Scroll down and click "Settings and Privacy," then click "Settings."
On the left side, click "Privacy." Scroll down until you see "Blocking" and click it. You will see a section that says "Block users." Type the person's name in the box and click "Block" next to their name when it appears. You can block as many people as you need from this screen. Each person you add will appear in your blocked list below.
What happens after you block someone
Once someone is blocked, they cannot see your profile, posts, comments, or stories. If you had sent them messages before blocking, those old messages will still be visible in their inbox — blocking only stops new messages from being sent. If they try to message you after you block them, the message will not go through, and they will see an error.
If you were in a group together, you will both still be in the group and can see each other's posts there. Blocking does not remove either of you from groups. If you want to avoid seeing them in a group, you will need to leave the group yourself or mute notifications from that group.
Blocking also does not delete any comments or posts the person made on your profile before you blocked them. Those will still be visible to other people. If you want to remove their old comments, you will need to delete them manually by clicking the three dots on each comment and selecting "Delete."
How to unblock someone
If you change your mind and want to unblock someone, go back to your settings. Click the down arrow in the top right, then "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings." Click "Privacy" on the left, then "Blocking." You will see a list of all the people you have blocked under "Blocked users."
Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. Facebook will ask you to confirm. Click "Unblock" again. That person can now message you, see your profile, and send you a friend request again. Unblocking does not automatically make you friends — they will need to send a new friend request if they want to be on your friends list.
Blocking on mobile phones
The steps are similar on the Facebook app for iPhone or Android, but the buttons look slightly different. To block someone from their profile on a phone, open their profile and tap the three dots (•••) in the top right corner. Tap "Block," then confirm by tapping "Block" again in the pop-up window.
To block from messages on a phone, open Messenger, find the conversation, and swipe left (iPhone) or long-press (Android) the person's name. Tap "Block" from the menu. To block from settings on a phone, tap the menu icon (three lines) at the bottom right, tap "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings," then scroll down and tap "Privacy" and "Blocking." The process is the same as on a computer from that point forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, if they try to visit your profile or search for you, they will see a message saying the profile is not available. They may figure out you blocked them based on this, but Facebook does not tell them directly.
Can I block someone and still be in a group together?
Yes. Blocking does not remove either of you from groups you share. You will both still see each other's posts in the group. If you want to avoid seeing them, you can leave the group or mute notifications from it instead.
What happens to old messages after I block someone?
Messages you sent before blocking will still be in their inbox, and messages they sent before blocking will still be in yours. Blocking only stops new messages from being sent going forward. If you want to delete old messages, you will need to delete them manually from your inbox.
Can I block someone temporarily and then unblock them later?
Yes. You can unblock someone at any time from your blocked list in settings. When you unblock them, they can message you and send friend requests again. Unblocking does not automatically make you friends — they will need to send a new request.
What if I block someone by mistake?
Go to your settings, click "Privacy," then "Blocking," and find the person in your blocked list. Click "Unblock" next to their name and confirm. They will be unblocked immediately and can interact with you again.